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Cron makes most of short stint in Minors

7/5/14: C.J. Cron drills a three-run homer to left-center field to give the Angels a 10-5 lead in the 7th inning

By Alden Gonzalez and Matthew DeFranks
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Angels first baseman C.J. Cron's recent trip to the Minors only warranted a few nights in a Salt Lake hotel.

Cron normally stays with a college friend during extended stays in Triple-A, but he played just two games with Salt Lake before being recalled Wednesday to replace infielder Grant Green, whose lumbar strain landed him on the disabled list.

Cron was just 3-for-26 in his last six games with the Angels, which sent his average from .295 to .269. He only had one home run in his last 52 at-bats after thumping five in a six-game stretch in late June.

"When you're doing well, you feel really comfortable, and when you're struggling, something seems just a tick off," Cron said. "If we knew what it was, we would fix it overnight, but sometimes it doesn't work that quick."

For Cron, it almost worked that quickly. In two games with Salt Lake, Cron went 5-for-8 with a RBI and a walk.

"I know it was a little bit of a slump, but I didn't want to change much," Cron said. "In the past, my swing works, so I don't think it's anything mechanical, more just seeing some pitches I can hit and seeing some balls through some holes."

The 24-year-old rookie was sent down on Saturday to make room for Huston Street on the active roster. Players cannot be recalled within 10 days of being optioned unless someone goes on the DL.

Cron did not play on Wednesday but was back in the starting lineup on Thursday, hitting eighth and serving as the designated hitter.